Marin Athletic Hall of Fame: Alex Hautau

When Alex Hautau grew up in Novato, he dreamed of being a football player.

No, not in the NFL. Heck, not even in college football.

Hautau had more colorful dreams. He wanted to wear the green and gold of San Marin High someday.

“Growing up, my dad would take me to the football and basketball games,” the San Marin Class of 1993 graduate recalled. “Some kids wanted to play pro at age 10. I wanted to play high school sports.”

Once he turned high school age, it was hard to get Hautau off the field. He played four years of football and basketball at San Marin, and three years of baseball.

Like some of the guys he watched growing up — including Brad Muster and Mike McCoy — Hautau did not only play football, but there he was eye-catching, earning MCAL Back of the Year honors as a senior defensive back.

Also a dependable wide receiver, Hautau believes he knows why he was able to do so well.

“Back then, you put your best guys at running back, linebacker and in the line,” he noted. “I played wide receiver and defensive back. I really don’t think I was that good ...just a little better than the other guys who played my positions.

“You know how it is. If I didn’t have a quarterback (Rory Springfield) who could throw me the ball, I wouldn’t have caught as many passes.”

Hautau went on to play two seasons at College of Marin and one at the University of Oregon, but the green and gold of Eugene never looked as good to him as they had on a San Marin uniform.

“To me, this is not a personal award. It’s a team award,” said Hautau, whose 1992 San Marin team coached by Joe Morgan won the North Coast Section championship.

“(1992) was an awesome year. I attribute my success to the coaches and my teammates. Someone on this team was going to win an award. I guess it’s me.”